220 Miles

The space station orbits
just 220 miles above Earth’s surface 
where gravity is 90%. 
The space station is in freefall
moving sideways at just the right velocity
to unite speed and gravity
permitting flight.

That is so close!

A drive to Aspen or Gallup, NM.
Child’s play.
A baby driver could go 220 miles in any direction 
except up, of course.

To go up I have beaten my bones on talus slopes
so I could glimpse a bird’s daily view–
tundras of tiny tempered star blossoms
oceans of snow-capped, time-stopped mountains
waving to the horizon
clouds just beyond my fingertips.

All up takes effort and a little magic at the end 
to stand near the sainted domain
of eagle, hawk, 
or arctic tern that travels from pole to pole
every single year.
Where starlink satellites are lobbed into heaven
in the name of the new connection
that was supposed to bring us closer
but has driven families forever apart

Maybe we are not meant for up, 
but up is clearly where we all want to go.
After we rise and rush up into the sacred space above it all
It is, of course, down that follows,
brings us right back where we belong 
among the walking, looking up at where we almost were.